Men's hockey: Tickets scarce for UND at SCSU series

Connor Gaarder of North Dakota and St. Cloud State's Judd Peterson battle for the puck last season at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The teams renew their rivalry this weekend at the Brooks Center.(Photo11: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)Buy Photo

Story Highlights

Less than 40 tickets for seats remain for Saturday's game and less than 590 for Friday's game

If tickets for seats are sold out, standing room only tickets will go on sale

SCSU is ranked No. 7 and is tied with 4th-ranked UND for the NCHC lead going into the series

The St. Cloud State and North Dakota men’s hockey teams are tied for the NCHC lead and both are ranked in the top seven in the two NCAA Division I polls.

Throw in a number of big games between the teams the past three seasons and there is a high demand for tickets to this weekend’s series at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

As of Wednesday, there are fewer than 590 tickets remaining for Friday’s game that is scheduled to start at 7:37 p.m. There are fewer than 40 tickets for seats remaining for Saturday’s 7:07 p.m. game.

If tickets for all of the seats are sold, standing-room-only tickets will be available.

“There’s always a lot of hype whenever we play them,” Huskies senior assistant captain David Morley said. “Since I’ve been here, St. Cloud and North Dakota are at the top of the standings and that adds to the hype and importance of the weekend.

“Every weekend is tough in this league, but when you’re playing and both teams are undefeated in conference and have great overall records, it’s great hockey. There’s been a natural rivalry between St .Cloud and North Dakota and we’ve really gone back and forth.”

St. Cloud State won the WCHA regular-season title in 2012-13 and the NCHC regular-season title in 2013-14. North Dakota won the NCHC regular-season title in 2014-15.

The teams are 5-5 in the last 10 games in the series, which included six games last season. The last two games had the most meaning. St. Cloud State beat North Dakota 3-1 in the NCHC semifinals and then North Dakota ended the Huskies’ season with a 4-1 win in the NCAA West Region championship.

“We have a lot of new faces,” said North Dakota sophomore Austin Poganski, whose team has 11 freshmen on its roster. “I think people probably thought we’d maybe get off to a slow start with a lot of younger guys.

“But our coaching staff really brought the team together quickly with getting the younger guys equipped with our systems. A lot of credit goes to the captains and the older guys and coaches.”

Both teams go into the weekend on a roll. The seventh-ranked Huskies (4-0-0 NCHC, 8-2-0 overall) have won their last four games. Fourth-ranked North Dakota (4-0-0, 9-1-2) has won three straight and its loss was 3-1 to Wisconsin on Nov. 6 in Grand Forks.

“Every time we play North Dakota, it means something,” Huskies senior wing Joey Benik said. “There’s no time when we go, ‘Oh, we’re playing North Dakota and it doesn’t have much meaning.’

“They’re at the top of their game right now and we’re at the top of ours and it’s going to be a battle for No. 1 in the NCHC.”

This will be the first time that Brad Berry has been North Dakota’s head coach in the series. Berry, a former NHL defenseman, spent nine seasons as an assistant and associate head coach for North Dakota. He took over as head coach in May after Dave Hakstol was named head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.

In the last 10 meetings between St. Cloud State and North Dakota, three games have been decided by one goal and five have been decided by two goals and Berry is expecting that kind of series.

“They’re very well-coached and always prepared and play with an ultra-high compete level and they transition very well,” Berry said of the Huskies. “Their forwards are a fast, skilled group and it seems like every year, their power play is at the top of the league. They bring a lot to the table and there’s a reason that they're at the top of our league nearly every year.”

Goaltending and defense

The teams have had strong goaltending and defense this season. St. Cloud State’s Charlie Lindgren is 7-2 with a .944 save percentage, 1.49 goals-against average and four shutouts. The Huskies are ninth in the nation in giving up the fewest shots-per-game (26.0) and third in goals against per game (1.50).

Because of injuries, walk-on Matt Hrynkiw (8-1-1, .920, 1.81), the team’s No. 3 goalie, has played the majority of time in goal for North Dakota. North Dakota has given up the fewest shots-per-game in the nation (22.25) and is seventh in goals against per game (1.83).

Special teams

After a good series on the power play against Western Michigan, St. Cloud State is 20th in the nation with the man advantage (21.6 percent) and 24th on the penalty kill (84.6 percent).

North Dakota is 41st on the power play (14.3 percent) and 42nd on the penalty kill (79.1 percent).

“Special teams are going to be a big deal in this series,” Berry said. “Playing with discipline is going to be a big thing.

“These are two teams that want to get up and go and play with pace. It’s two very evenly matched teams and it seems like a battle every game we play them.”

Follow Mick Hatten on Twitter @MickHatten, Instagram @mickhatten and at Facebook.com/sctimesmick. Reach him by phone at 259-3621.